Why The Bathroom Is Actually The Perfect Place For A Spider Plant
Houseplants are great for cleaning the air we breathe, but not everyone realizes that they're also good for clearing a clouded mind. According to a 2020 review conducted by the International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability, studies have found that the mere presence of plants is enough to make us feel happier and less stressed and boost our productivity.
Unfortunately, bathrooms can be a tricky place to keep houseplants, as much as the room and its residents might benefit from their presence. Bathrooms tend to be very humid, and the need for privacy means that they don't usually have many windows. High humidity and lack of sunlight can present problems for most houseplants, but for the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), it's a walk in the park. This low-maintenance plant is the perfect companion to keep in your bathroom space, and takes on humidity in bathrooms without windows. There are many benefits to moving your spider plant into the bathroom.
Low light + high humidity = happy spider plant
If you've been looking for the perfect houseplant to add to your bathroom space, the spider plant is an excellent option. Spider plants are native to the tropical western and central areas of Africa. In the rainforests, these plants grow as groundcover, where they are used to being shaded by other trees, vines, and foliage. Because of their natural adaptations, these little plants are quite happy to live in some of the most shadowy areas of your home — even a bathroom with no windows. In fact, too much sunlight can actually burn your spider plant, so it's best to place them in a room with soft, indirect sunlight.
Besides having indirect sunlight, there's another way that your bathroom can mimic the rainforest environment for your spider plant. Spider plants love humidity between about 50-60%, so the humidity in your bathroom keeps your spider plant's leaf tips from turning brown and ensures bright, lush foliage. They also like things on the relatively warm side, between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so the steam from a hot shower is just as refreshing for them as it is for you!
Caring for a bathroom spider plant
Place your spider plant on a shelf or the top of your toilet tank or hang it above your bathtub or in the corner of your shower. Spider plants love to be in a location where they can let their long tendrils down, such as a hanging planter. If you have no windows in the bathroom, you may want to leave the door open sometimes or install a nightlight to give your plant a little extra light. You can also move the spider plant to another room every now and then to soak up some rays before going back into the bathroom. Very few plants can survive in actual total darkness, and the 1-2 hours you spend with the light on in your bathroom every day may not be sufficient, so make sure your spider plant has some source of regular sunlight access.
Spider plants are relatively low-maintenance, and perfect houseplants if you struggle to keep your plants alive. For the best results, water your spider plant only when the soil is dry, roughly every 10-14 days with filtered water. Pruning the plant isn't necessary except to remove dead foliage or trim any "spiderette" offshoots that may be sapping energy from the main plant. By clipping and propagating these spiderettes, you can quickly fill your bathroom and other areas of your home with these lovely green houseplants!